NCJ Number
58489
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 18-25
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
OBSTACLES IN IMPROVING POLICE PRODUCTIVITY ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF IDEOLOGICAL PROFILES OF POLICE AND LIBERAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE EFFICACY OF POLICING AS A CONCEPT.
Abstract
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HINDERING POLICE PRODUCTIVITY IS INACCURATE AND MISLEADING CRIME STATISTICS, WHICH EMPHASIZE QUANTITY BUT OFTEN IGNORE THE NEED FOR MORE SENSITIVE INDICATORS AND NEW TECHNIQUES OF SOCIAL ANALYSIS. MOREOVER, POLICE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN NOT RELEASING RELIABLE DATA FOR FEAR OF A LESS SUPPORTIVE OR MORE CRITICAL PUBLIC. ADDING TO THE DISTORTION ABOUT THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CRIME ARE THE UNREPORTED CRIMES AND THE POLITICAL MANEUVERINGS OF POLITICIANS IN SEARCH OF ISSUES REGARDLESS OF THEIR BASIS IN FACT. SINCE POLICE MUST RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC'S NEEDS IN THE AREA OF CRIME, NEW TECHNIQUES AND RESEARCH STRATEGIES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO INTRODUCE QUALITY INTO THE MEASUREMENT OF CRIME AND THE USE OF CRIME STATISTICS. STUDIES IN THE U.S., CANADA, AND ENGLAND WHICH SHOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE POLICE SHOULD NOT INSTILL COMPLACENCY AND RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AMONG POLICE OFFICERS. AN EXAMPLE OF CRIME STATISTICS WITHOUT MERIT INVOLVE THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF NONVIOLENT PROPERTY CRIMES. CURRENTLY, DETECTIVE STRATEGIES TEND TO CONCENTRATE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON STREET CRIME WITH LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE MODERN, SOPHISTICATED THIEF. THUS, THE CROSS-SECTION OF THOSE IN PRISON DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THOSE ACTUALLY COMMITTING NONVIOLENT PROPERTY CRIMES IN SOCIETY. WHEN ADDRESSING SUCH ISSUES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE PUBLIC OPINION ON THE NEED TO COMBAT SOPHISTICATED CRIME; OFTEN, THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF THE POLICE WILL CAUSE THEM TO REACT NEGATIVELY TO ANY CHALLENGE TO THEIR FIRMLY HELD BELIEFS. IN ADDITION, THE IDEOLOGY OF A LIBERAL DEMOCRACY IS OFTEN AT ODDS WITH POLICE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY EFFECTIVENESS. CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTY VIOLATIONS IS USUALLY EXPRESSED WHEN PRIOR SURVEILLANCE AND ASSOCIATED BACKGROUND INQUIRIES ARE USED TO INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES, BUT SUCH CONCERN IS USUALLY ABSENT IN THE CASE OF ORDINARY STREET CRIME. EIGHT GROWTH AREAS IN CRIME FOR POLICE TO ADDRESS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND THE DANGERS OF A TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH TO CRIME INVESTIGATION ARE REVIEWED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)